Behind the Lines

My Experience with the French Resistance
During World War II

By Jack W. Stead
Summer 1990

Introduction

I write this, not as a tribute to any personal courage or glory, but
at the insistence of my family, who for many years have urged me to set this down before
it is lost either by a loss of memory or my demise.

Before I begin, I wish you to understand that for many years it was
not possible to relate these events, due to orders from the U.S. Army that nothing be
revealed until officially released. This was done to protect those brave people who aided
us in that hour of greatest need. Had they been discovered, they would have forfeited
their lives. The Germans would have seen to that.